Compressor valve



. Der 26,1944. P. I.. CRITTENDEN- 2,366,004y

COMPRESSOR VALVE Filed 061'.. 29, 1942 Figi,

5 O INVENToR l PmPLfa-tmam @im ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1944 ENT OFFICE COMPRESSOR VALVE if Philip L. Crittenden, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa.,l acorporation of Pennsylvania Application o'ctbber 29, 1942seria1No. 463,756 1 Claim (C1. 251-1114) This invention relates to pressure actuated valves, and more particularly to a discharge valve for a fluid compressor or the like.

In the construction of a uid compressor of relatively simple and inexpensive design suitable for use in transportation service and light industrial work, it is desirable that the compressor valve elements be carefully devised, not only to provide maximum eciency in operation, but also to facilitate ease of assembly or replacement of parts. The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved valve assembly, suitable for use as a discharge valve in a compressor of the type referred to, and comprising a valve element of frusto-conical form, a spring, and a single carrier element for retaining both valve and spring in proper alignment with a suitable beveled seat carried in the compressor head.

Other objects and advantages'of the invention will appear in the following more detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a compressor head assemblage embodying a preferred form of valve mechanism constructed according to the invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are side and end views, respectively, of the carrier and valve elements shown in Fig. 1.

Illustrated in Fig. 1 is the upper portion of a compressor including a cylinder 5, a cylinder head B which may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto, and a pistoni, which is arranged for operation within a suitable compression chamber or bore 8 formed in the cylinder 5. `It will be understoodthat the compressor is adapted to be provided with suitable inlet Valve means, not shown,l through which air or other fluid can bey supplied to thebore 8 for compression by the piston 1.

Formed in the compressor head 6 is a vertically disposed chamber IIl which communicates the chamber III, the upper end of the carrier member having screw-threaded connectionV with the cylinder head 6. The carrier member I'I includes a tubular portion I9, which is disposed in concentric spaced relation with respect to the wall of the chamber III and terminates in a pair of extensions or lugs 20. Formed on the upper end of the carrier member I1 is a suitable screwv thereof .occupies a substantial portion of the space thread 2| that is engageable with a corresponding thread formed on the head 6 at the outer end of the chamber I0. An annular flange 22 disposed adjacent the thread 2| on the carrier member is adapted to abut the upper end of the head for defining the proper assembled position of the associated elements.

Loosely held between the opposite lug portions 20 of the carrier member is afrusto-comcal valve element 25, in which are formed lateral recesses 26 for receiving the lug portions. 21 is interposed between a wall 28 formed in the carrier member I'I and the valve element 25 for normally urging the latter into seating engagement with the beveled seat l5, when the various elements are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Pins 29 are inserted through suitable apertures in the lug portions 20 of the carrier .member I'I for retaining the valve element 25 before the carrier member is mounted in place, or after its removal from the head 6. In order to minimize Lany tendency of the conical valve element to shift to a somewhat oblique position when it is lifted from the seat I5 during rapid operation, inclined or beveled stop surfaces 3l are formed on the end of the tubular portion I9 of the carrier member, between the projecting lugs 20. 'The beveled stop surfaces 3| are adapted to be engaged by the complementary inner face 32 of the conical valve 'element when it reaches the upper limit of movement away from the seat I5, so that proper centering and alignment of the valve element during `operation of the compressor is thus insured.

It will be observed that when the valve element 25 is in seated position, it remains out of engagement with the pins 29, while the at apex 30 within the port I3 of the compressor `head 6, thus minimizing the undesired clearance space above the compressor piston 8 which would otherwise tend to impair full volmetric efiiciency of the compressor. The frusta-conical contour of the valve element 25 provides a further advantage in facilitating free flow of air under pressure from the compression chamber 8 without causing any abrupt change in direction.

It will now be apparent that the improved discharge valve assembly constructed in accordance with my invention embodies means for facilitating assembly of the associated elements of a compressor and for preventing damage to or loss of the valve element or spring when the parts are removed for inspection, the construction and arrangement being such as to permit the use of a A coil spring frusto-conical valve to insure adequate volumetric eiciency of the compressor and relatively unimpeded ow of fluid under pressure from the compression chamber to the discharge conduit.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A discharge valve assembly for'a uidcompressor, comprising the combination with a Valve casing having a valve chamber containing an inlet forming an elevated conical valve seatqandhaving an outlet, of a valve carrier memberihavi'ng a body portion secured in SCreWIthreaded. relation with said casing andra cylindrical pt;i`ii', i'c'nfn.r

5 cylindrical portion and having internal beveled surfaces conforming to the bevel of the stop surfaces, saidv4 valve element havingl lateral slots for loosely receiving said lugs when said valve element is assembled thereon, whereby said valve ele- -10 -ment is adapted to be freely guided on said lugs "without frictional engagement with other surffacesand to be centered by engagement with said stop surfaces when unseated, pins secured to the 1edsofsaid lugs for retaining said valve element 15 `onfsaid carrier member, and a spring interposed between said body portion and said valve element 'for 'urging the vlatter into seating engagement with-said conical valve seat.

PHILIP L. CRITTENDE'N. 

